
小皇帝
‘Little Emperor Syndrome’ is a term used to describe the behavioural time-bomb created by China’s One Child Policy. Introduced in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution as a way of curbing population growth, an entire generation was raised without siblings. Pampered, entitled, and bucking against China’s proud tradition of filial piety, the children of the world’s next superpower were born bearing the weight of their parents’ expectations.
In 2016 China’s One Child Policy officially ended, and to mark the close of an era, we’ve teamed up with award-winning Australian writer Lachlan Philpott and one of Beijing’s most innovative directors, Wang Chong, to explore the stories, secrets and aspirations of the children of a radical political experiment. Set in both Melbourne and Beijing, and weaving between Mandarin and English, this rich and revelatory new play cuts through our assumptions to take us deep into the lives of a generation of secret and only children.
PRODUCTION PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS
A Malthouse Theatre production presented in association with Asia TOPA: Asia Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts, and supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria. With producing support from Ping Pong Productions. Little Emperors is supported by the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne for Asia TOPA. Asia TOPA is a joint initiative of the Sidney Myer Fund and Arts Centre Melbourne and is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Key image: by Zan Wimberley
Images: Tim Grey
WRITTEN BY /
Lachlan Philpott
DIRECTION /
Wang Chong
CAST /
Diana (Xiaojie) Lin, Liam Maguire, Alice Qin & Yuchen Wang
DRAMATURGY /
Mark Pritchard
SET & COSTUME DESIGN /
Romanie Harper
LIGHTING DESIGN & AV CONSULTANT /
Emma Valente
SOUND DESIGN /
James Paul
AV PROGRAMMER /
Andre Vanderwert
STAGE MANAGER /
Harriet Gregory
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER /
Matilda Woodroofe
SCRIPT TRANSLATION /
Hongyi Tian
SURTITLES /
Felix Ching Ching Ho
Event & ticketing details
Accessibility
Performance Times
Event notes
DURATION /
1 hour, 35 minutes (no interval)
NOTE /
There is a chance patrons in the front rows may experience incidental splashing from the water stage.